High Hopes then Disappointment
We were very excited to assemble and play w/this classic toy; Our 6 year-old-son has discovered Nascar. Unfortunately, the guard rails did not stay on and the pieces did not snap together easily.Once assembled one track worked very well - the car went so fast it flew off the track ! The other track worked inconsistently then not at all.If this toy did work it would be great fun !

HO slot cars not like they used to be...
.Back in the early to mid-sixties, I built several 32nd scale tracks from scratch. I picked this one up on a whim, anticipating an afternoon or two of pale nostalgia. Boy, was I surprised.

This is nothing like the early HO sets. The cars are very fast, and handle well. Detail on the LL cars isn't very good, but Tomy's excellently detailed Super G + cars work great.

LifeLike support was good- one of my cars died, and they sent a replacement right away.

This is an excellent value, and makes a great father/son activity. It's a good way to learn about basic physics and electricity, as well as the need to care for and maintain machinery.

Within a couple of weeks of purchasing this, I'd rediscovered an old hobby....
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Race for the finish line in this realistic NASCAR Winner's Cupelectric racing set. With over 15 feet of magnetic power track, theplastic raceway is easy to assemble and can be arranged in multiplelayouts. The power pack plugs into an electrical outlet and thetrigger-action controllers attach by wires to the straightaway sectionof the track. Guardrails, bridges, and flags add to the building fun.Clocked at nearly 1,000 scale miles per hour, these authentic 3-inchNASCAR models can truly travel. Kids will have fun figuring out thebalance of handling and speed necessary to keep the cars from flippingoff the track. Dual lanes allow two players to compete simultaneouslyand a lap counter determines the winner. --Lair Showalter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fathers Day
I purchased this toy for my father who is a huge Nascar fan. Now on the days there are no races, he can have one of his own. He loves it!! My only gripe is that I wanted to purchase a different car (my dads favorite drivers car so he can be him when he plays with it) and the only place I could find it was through the manufacturer for $! But other than that everything else is great! It goes together easy. It did come with 2 different cars than the ones shown in the pic which, for me, turned out to be a good thing since my dad doesn't like one of the drivers.

Mega Fun
I purchased this set for me and my 4 ½ year old son who loves cars. When the set arrived it took me about 10 minutes to assemble the track and another 5 to put the guardrails on. We setup the track on an old king size bed sheet on the floor in the living room. We did this to keep the cars from picking up any carpet lint from the living room carpet. I warmed up each car by running them for about a minute or two with their rear wheels lifted off the track before letting them loose on the track. The cars ran surprisingly well, better than I remember my set running when I was a boy. There were no dead spots on the track. However, it did take about 6 to 8 times around to eliminate the stalling effect that the lap counter track had on the cars as they passed the counter. The cars were very fast and held the track extremely well. The cars even ran well at slower speeds no stalling. My son and I played for 2 hours that night and he only had his car fall off the track twice. I highly recommend the NASCAR Winners Cup Racing Set to anyone looking for a quality racing set without hours of setup time. We have had such a good time racing that we have since visited online hobby shops and purchased different Life Like cars for his set.

New Nascars for the track
I need to know how to get new cars for the race track. My Grandson got a race track for Christmas and the first day playing with it one of the cars rear axel was stripped. We would like to buy him sone more cars for the track. If you could send me some information on how to get them I would appreciate it.

Thanks,Amanda MoberleyAbm467@cs.com

Kids enjoy it.
Both of my children love playing with this. The only down fall I see is that one of the cars "blew" and engine, and no longer runs. In order to replace this car the cost is higher than what I paid for the whole set.

Revisiting your childhood
Good starter kit. Easy to set up. The cars hug the curves due to magnets but can still fly off if you go too fast. Amazing that the pieces haven't changed in 30 years. My three daughters LOVE it. I am already looking to expand the track, just like I did 30 years ago!
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Great ho race car
If any priced these cars atocal hobby shops lately you will know that [$$$] for two of them is a steal. These cars are extremely fast and feature the magnetic tration so even the youngest racers can enjoy them with little or no skill in ho racing. They are far superior from the cars I used to have when I was a kid both in speed and staying on the track. They allow my 4 year old to race like a pro! The pick up shoes are a little fragile, dont even consider cleaning them but you can buy them online; 10 pairs for [$$$] so i guess its not to big of an issue

Fast Paced Fun
My son (age 4 ½) likes the paint schemes on most NASCAR vehicles and this twin pack was no exception. He loved the flames on the Dupont #24 car and liked the lightening bolt printing on the Valvoline #10 car. But looks were not the only thing this twin pack had going for it. I liked the price; two cars for the price of one is a great price. I bought this twin pack as an addition to a Life Like Racing set. These two cars run extremely well and really hold the track at higher speeds. They are well built, run well fast or slow and look great. The paint scheme on these cars is not currently being used by the real NASCAR sponsors that they represent (the paint scheme is 2 or 3 years old) but at two cars for the price of one who cares. My son and I have had hours of fun with these cars and I would highly recommend this pack to anyone looking to add more cars to their lineup.
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No fun
These cars keep flying out of the tracks as they go around the flexi bend. It looks so cool when it works, but when I do it, I can get the car to go around successfully maybe one in ten times. My three year old? Forget it! I tried revving the cars as little as possible, thinking they had too much juice, but no such luck. We're returning it 2 hours after assembling.

fun low-maintainance race track
Santa brought this for our 4.5 year old. Once it is setup (save a picture or the directions) it stays together -- even after a lot of use. (Can't say the same for our Hot Wheel sets). It is NOT difficult to setup mind you, just a bit hard to recall the twists if you haven't set it up in awhile. No batteries needed. The cars rev themselves up and off they go! Since there are two tracks, friends/siblings can play, but great for solo play too. Doesn't take up a lot of floor space either. Would recommend for 3+.

Very fast and fun!!
My 3-year-old son loves this toy. It is his favorite Christmas gift. The cars are easy for a young child to race. They run very fast through the loops. It's very fun to watch.
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Pint-sized NASCAR fans can stage races at home with this radio-controlled replica of race driver Tony Stewart's car. Although it's about 1/64 of the size of Stewart's actual car, the other features on this model are exactly the same. The box features a bio of Stewart's racing highlights on the back and the car charges in a miniature copy of Stewart's orange racing helmet emblazoned multiple times with The Home Depot logo. When it's time to race, the 27 MHz controller switches on to send the car forward or backward using the left-hand touchpad controls or left or right with the right-hand controls. Kids can race cars against each other or against the powerful 49 MHz NASCAR model cars for some stiff competition. The controller operates via one 9-volt battery and the charger takes three AAA batteries. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Drive the 2002 Winston Cup champion's car
It's so great to see the NASCAR market these days. When Racing champions released a 1:64 rc car it only went straight and turned in reverse, I never thought I'd see the day when cars of this size can turn left, right, reverse, and forward. And I never expected the charger to be a helmet. REALLY COOL. I'm so glad that I can drive Tony Stewart's car anywhere.
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The most extensive Career Mode in a NASCAR video game just got deeper and easier to navigate

Over 70 drivers and 175 authentic cars and the first game with a full pack of 43 Cup Series cars

For 1-4 players

Reviews (14)

New to XBOX and NASCAR . . . . impressed
I have been a long time fan of race inspired games of the simulation type. I have stayed away from "arcade" style ones due to the mindless physics and press the accelerator only mentality. NASCAR Thunder 2004 is one heck of a good game and I would put it as a close second to Gran Turismo A-spec for the PS2.

The graphics are good, although the surfaces and action is not as smooth compared to GT for PS2. Audio is very good with a nice balance of default sound effects and music whereby tweaking is not necessary.

There is a sense of nervous anticipation just before the race begins and it carries over until the finish line. With a highly competitive grid of racers the action is intense at times. A great game and a must buy for the race gamers.

Great Challenge In Career Mode - Take charge of your team
Alot of the reviews are not good for this game. However, if you ever watched a nascar race on tv, that is all they do is go round and round. So that aside, in career mode you are responsible for signing sponsors, hiring your crew, and developing your race cars without breaking the bank.

It is a strategy game in a sense that you have to make money in the races in order to rebuild your cars and buy shop equipment. It isn't easy to race without hitting others, but you can make up some track time by taking on 2 tires instead of four. I run the races at about 10-15 laps so I don't get bored. The super speedways are the best, but if you dont like a particular track, you can simulate it and skip it.

I rented it for 2 weeks and will prob buy it.

"Thunder" was a hit
I recomened this game to anyone who enjoys the pure thrill of the road, the excitement of speed, and the will to win.

WOW! how Stupid!
You gotta be pretty dumb to play this game 24/7! I turned it on, didnt understand one thing going on. Racing games need a new edge. They have AWESOME graphics, no doubt, but they lack a good time. I thought this was a terrible game. Dont get this game. EA sports has done a great job with madden and nba live, but this was a big disapointment! Later

V.Good game
So many negative reviews have been written about this game by those who played earlier editions. well this is the 1st time I ever played a NAscar game and I love it.

License mode is great, having Richard Petty talk you through each track is great stuff, its like a real life scenario, you have to practise to become good to become a contender to become a champion to become a multi time champion to become a legend.

I like games with competion and I like games where you really have to work hard and practise, then when you do finally become champ, its a sweet feeling, like you really one the big one.

Tou will do better on some tracks then others (thats how it is in real life) but the key is to be consistent and patient. I can talk all day about this the quality of this game but I wont. Great graphics and excellent sound. This game is for the hardcore professional racers who wont sulk bcz they cant win a race or cry bcz the game is to repetitive.

You too can win at Daytona! This board game tries to come as close tothe experience of racing at Daytona International Speedway as possible--without actually getting in a car and driving. The game board is a massive 22 by 38 inches and was designed from the blueprints of the Daytona track. Game pieces are detailed, die-cast metal replicas of racecars. A dashboard spinner with six separate dials is used to advance the game, and a dry erase log sheet is provided to keep track of each racer's progress. To start the game, drivers spin the Qualifying dial to learn their qualifying times. They line up on the track accordingly and roll a die to advance. Chance cards, Caution cards, Bonus cards, and spins on the Random Breakdown spinner can provide unwelcome news or a chance to take the lead. As the race progresses drivers are able to draft off each other, pass and lap other drivers, and make pit stops. Daytona Challenge provides an adrenaline-rushing opportunity for race enthusiasts to live vicariously. --Wendy Slotboom ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Most Fun and Realistic Racing Game I have ever Seen
The DAYTONA CHALLENGE is "ADDICTIVE" This game is a colorfull beautiful realistic rendetion of the actual Legendary DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY.The game play is exactly like you are racing at DAYTONA.Drafting is a major part of the game.If you are directly behind the car in front of you - then you will gain 2 additional spaces at the end of your turn. as you are drafting.If 1 space seperates you from the car in front of you - then you add 1 additional space to the end of your roll (ex: roll 7 + 1 for draft total gain 8) If you have more than 2 spaces seperating you from the pack of cars in front of you then you have lost the draft and it could be along day.There is also tire ware, pit, and fuel strategy to think about.You can trade paint with the car beside you and they must deduct from their roll (ex: 8 -2 for trading paint gain only 6)You can give the car in front of you a little love tap and he must deduct 2 from his roll.This game has all the exitement of real racing.My freinds and I play in leagues its great.I would definatly reccomend this game to anyone that just loves pure out competition. GREAT GAME!

TechnicalWriter for the game says.....
I was in college with the inventor of this game (David Whalen) and learned a lot about recing from working on the rule book with Dave.Its a GREAT game!Dave added a lot of features to revv up the engines of other racing fans!Plays like the real thing!!

The Candyland of racing games
This game was originally sold as a "racing collectible" rather than as a board game.After playing it, it's obvious why they did that.I am a huge fan of racing games and must admit that this game is absolutely beautiful to look at.Too bad the game play is so bad.There are virtually no decisions for the players to make during the game (thus the Candyland reference).You roll the die.If you get a number, your car moves that many spaces.If you roll the special "C" on the die (a one in ten chance), you draw a card.Most of the cards tell you to do something - again, no decisions - though a few of the cards can be saved to play later.Choosing when to play those saved cards is about the only decision involved.This would be a good introductory racing game for younger children (I've used it as such with my six year old son), but there are better racing games for youngsters (Milton Bradley's out of print but easy to find NASCAR Champions is one).Bottom line: Save your money.
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EA Definitely Messed It Up!
Well, I have to agree with the author that stated EA messed up what used to be a good game. I constantly play Nascar Thunder 2003 and thought that 2004 looked better. WRONG. Granted, the graphics are a lot better, but that's the only thing that has improved. The gameplay has been ruined - the graphics are so overdone that a white "wall" of what looked like smoke would appear every so often in the game. Personally, it looks like EA just used the code for the PS1 version of the game and beefed up the graphics. The sound is pathetic - doesn't even sound like a real car like 2003 does. It's also not compatible with the Logitch wheel. The same day I bought my copy I had it up for sale if that tells you anything.

Excellent Game I Daresay
Ah, I must admit, I'm 14, but I didn't really feel like going through the sign up just to review one game thing, since I ain't got any things to buy anythin' with, so ignore my age in the box.

Anyways, I give this game 5 stars. On a previous read review, something like this was said. "You can't spin out unless you turn your car to the loose side." Well, actually, it's very easy to spin out, I've done it with 1.5 Wedge. Only problem is, you cannot spin out in Career mode, since being sideways brings out a caution, (which I do a lot to help me). Also, on another previous read review, if you break your engine doing donuts, you're stupid. No offense meant. To many who read this and are confused on how to do a donut, go into practice anywhere, 'Dega is best to practice on, just hold the break down, then hold down accellerator, wait 5 seconds, then let break go. And just release and press again on the accell after every two spins, it's just that easy.

And yes, Career mode is challenging, but for anyone who wants to have some fun, have on your first year, the AI as rookie, and the race length as 25%, and 6, or even better, 9 races away from the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Super Speedway, if you are 9 races away, sell one body, one chassis, and one engine, and start building. But do from atleast 6. And if you're as good as me, you'll have minimal damage after the race, and a top 20 ATLEAST! (In my second year, I WON the EA Sports 500 just by pitting right, and a whole lotta prayer, but please, do not repeat what I did after the race. I grabbed a bottle of Rootbeer, ran outside, shook it up, and sprayed all over. I was just that excited ^.^) But yeah, have fun with that.

Sorry for turning this from a review to a help, but I'll bet this helped a lot of you people ^.-, plus Kansas Motor Speedway is after 'Dega, and I am Greatest at Kansas, no matter what condition my things are in.

So, overall, I think the only thing that needs improv....actually, I don't think anything needs improvment. Actually, to all you Nascar Fanatics out there, We CANNOT buy another Nascar game after this. New game = All that new points crap, and.....no.....No Rockingham! *Sniffle* It's just wrong to not have Rockingham on the list. Don't y'all agree?

Once again, EA Sports has created a beauty!!!
I bought this game a couple of days ago and I have to say, it was worth 45 of those 50 dollars. The gameplay is so realistic, despite the fact that you can't spin out to save your life unless you rig your car on the loose side (i do that often). Another thing that sucks about this game is the career mode. What an aweful car you have! I cant help but use a provisional before every single race. But then again, there are some friggin awesome things about this game. When you tend to trade paint on the tracks, sparks come out. You can really see it during night races. Also, if you piss someone off on the track by giving him a little nudge during the race (or big nudge), he'll retaliate when he gets the chance by giving YOU a little nudge (or big nudge) back! I found that pretty awesome. The pits are so realistic. I like how you have a slight chance of making an error during a pit stop. It gives it a more realistic feel because as most of you know, not all pitstops are perfect. If one of them do make an error, it shows that very person who made the error so you can (if you want to that is) release that person and get another person, but you can only release team members in career mode. I'd say this game is four out of five stars. If your a huge Nascar fan, go to your nearest store and buy this game now! Even if your not, go and buy it. It's that good.

Best Game ever...invented? Fo Sho!
This game is awesome...its the best NASCAR Game ever created! yes..rivals may be very much a pain,but thats where skill gets involved. Theres only 1 thing i do not like about this game...if someone else hits you or u hit them ON ACCIDENT because of ur car getting loose or tight,then that person(s) that u hit do not like you anymore. Thats the only thing i can think of. Physics are improved a ton! This game is awesome! It really involves skill and concentration at times.

Better than last year's? Yes
NASCAR Thunder 2004 for the PlayStation2 is an improvement over last year's NASCAR Thunder game. This year's version features the Ally and Rival which gives the game more of a realistic feel since there are drivers who hold a grudge against certain drivers (Jeff and Robby Gordon for example). Career Mode has definitely improved over last year's game since you have more to do towards things such as expanding your garage while at the same time your chasis, body, and engine.

PROS+Improved Career Mode+Being able to get 171/171 Thunder Plates (unlike last year's)+All 23 tracks along with infield road courses, and fantasy tracks

CONS-Rivals can be a pain, unless you can be good enough not to get them more mad then they already are-Improve physics a bit more
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Dirt to Daytona Review
I've been playing video games all of my life, racing games the most. I must tell you that Dirt to Daytona is one of THE BEST racing games I have ever played. This game is a solid 10!! I give two thumbs up to Infogrames. Nascar Heat was a great game that needed just a little bit more to make it a ten. The guys at Infogrames made all the right corrections and have what I feel is a must have for any body who loves racing and racing games as much as I do. The game packs in so much information with the 4 different divisinos of NASCAR that I thought the speed of play would be lacking or that details would be left out; giving us a poorly developed game. I'm very happy to see that this did not happen and that game play, especially with the 43 car Winston Cup field, did not suffer one bit. I would recommend this game to anyone. Thanks Infogrames for taking the time to make such an awesome product! Great job!

Good Game but with a few flaws
Don't get me wrong this is not that bad of a game for it's kind but there are some things that keep this game from being a really fun game overall. The graphics are nice but it seems that Bristol doesn't look hardly anything like its real life counterpart while in other games like the NASCAR Racing and NASCAR Thunder; Bristol looks more like the real life track.

PROS+Good Career Mode+More than one type of series in a NASCAR game

CONS-Cars and [car] Models not licensed-Missing tracks such as Indianapolis, Pocono, Chicagoland, Memphis-Physics could've been a bit more realistic

Elite
This game has the potential to give you a wonderful delight, especially if you have time on your hands. I went from nobody to the top in approximately 5 months. Awesome game would recommend to all NASCAR fanatics.

Good for the money.
Well im not a Nascar fan so much as terms of their games, However I will say this, All though my relatives love Nascar 2004, I picked this up for some fun, well it handles better, more real like, abit more fun for the game, Something it shouldve been in the real EA games. Coming from me that is how I like it, I love abit more feel into a game and customize or planning vs that of JUST playing. In stores the game is about 50$, here you get for 20$, its worth picking up thats all Ill say.

Drirt to Daytona, Great game
I love this game me and my friends have spent many of hours playing this game so much that they brougt it. This game has what I've seen as the best career mode ever. The chalenge is great and the diffrent sponsors and things you can do is great. I recogmend this to anyone that loves racing, especially Nascar...
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Experience authentic stock car racing drama in NASCAR Thunder 2003. The 800-hp, 200-mph action on the track is true to the spirit of the sport and the passion of the fans, with massive pileups, metal-twisting damage, and an all-new game engine. From sponsorships to car setup to all-out racing action, you will build a legacy and become a legend in the deepest career mode ever. If you can survive the door-to-door, three-wide racing season after season, then you're ready for NASCAR Thunder 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Boring
I did not like this game because well,It was to hard for me,and i pressed the X button which that makes you go Oh please,that goes super slow.That's what i call BORING!

PSone's best racing game
I've played NASCAR '98, '99 and 2000 for the PSone. the "99 version..imo..is the best out of the 3 i have mentioned. I took a chance and bought NASCAR thunder 2003. All i can say is "wow".This game is worth every penny. Only downfall i see thus far is only 18 cars on the field at one, but the gameplay and graphics makes up for that flaw. The yellow flag, the pit stops and crashes are all awesome. I have to also add that i can race on every track with ease. With a little practice i can finally race on the road courses without driving in the sidelines or wrecking on every turn.If you own the PSone, this game is a must-have. I am a loyal PSone fan and will enjoy this game as long as i live. EAsports..it's in the game...how bad have you got it?

the best
i think this game is the best because when you crash it looks so real.

The Best PSOne can do
If you're looking for an equal to the versions available on the X-Box, PS2, and GameCube, this is not for you. There is no career mode, Lighting mode, and season mode is too short. There are only 18 drivers, and RICHARD Petty is included, but KYLE Petty was left off. When you win a season, don't expect the celebration where you'd normally see your driver holding the Winston Cup.

Now, on the other hand, if you are looking for the most realistic NASCAR game available on Playstation, this is right up your alley. It DOES include all licensed race tracks, and all the tracks are detailed nicely and well modeled after the real tracks.

The game also features Thunder Plates rounds where your driving skills will be put to the test. You will be challenged with different tasks like leading five laps and winning 1st in Daytona using Rusty Wallace, to holding 1st in Las Vegas, spinning your car around and crossing the finish line taking 2nd place in reverse.

This may be inferior to the next-gen system versions, but it is one of the best NASCAR games I have played for the PSOne.

This one is too hot to handle!
If you've taken care of "regular" NASCAR games and had enough of NASCAR HEAT, then this one is for you! Thunder gives you that added dimension. It's tougher to handle the cars and you can't get away with anything on this one. Cool tracks including Daytona on the beach! Neat paints schemes and cool up-to-date driver profiles! I've had it only a couple weeks and it's like a new toy everyday!!! Buy it now!! You won't be disppointed!
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Pint-sized NASCAR fans can stage races at home with this radio-controlled replica of race driver Bobby Labonte's. Although it's about 1/64 of the size of Labonte's actual car, the other features on this model are exactly the same. The box features a bio of Labonte's racing highlights on the back and the car charges in a miniature copy of Labont's green and white racing helmet emblazoned multiple times with the InterstateBatteries logo. When it's time to race, the controller switches on to send the car forward or backward using the left-hand touchpad controls or left or right with the right-hand controls. Kids can race cars against each other or against the powerful 49 MHz NASCAR model cars for some stiff competition. The controller operates via one 9-volt battery and the charger takes three AAA batteries. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more